Posts

Showing posts from June, 2008

A Pox on Both Your Houses

Image
Please Visit Mark Knows It All, the Web Site In all of the years that I have been following politics, I have never seen such a disconnect between the United States Congress and the country’s population. As gas continues to go up, and up, and up….Congress and the two assumed political parties’ nominees for President are fiddling in the parlor. If there ever was a time to put aside the dogma and the idealogy, this is it. As I watch the debate over energy in this country, I fully realize that the increase in gas prices is a precursor to the increase in utility costs coming this winter, especially here in Ohio, as we are forced to make decisions relating to our natural gas and electric suppliers. There is nothing good here. But instead of doing something about it, the political and ideological drums beat onward and onward, ever louder, and accomplishing nothing. Shame on Congress! Shame on Barack Obama! Shame on John McCain. From the Democrats, we get the same old, tired, environmental har...

On Tim Russert and Fathers

Image
Please visit Mark Knows It All; The Web Site Tim Russert’s untimely death certainly gave me pause. I am 58 years old, and don’t live what can be called a healthy life style. I love my pizza and red meat, and eschew veggies, especially the good kind like broccoli. Russert seemed to be a good and decent man. He was the epitome of the American dream, pulling himself by his bootstraps from humble beginnings. He was well liked among his colleagues from all sides of the political spectrum. His two bestselling books Big Russ and Me and Wisdom of Our Fathers , gave gravitas to the role of fathers in the American family when men are routinely trivialized as compared to the “single” mother. Bill Cosby has echoed Russert’s theme of the importance of “Dad” in the very difficult endeavor of child raising. I have written several times over the past few years about the marginalization of males in our society. Yet study after study shows again and again that the traditional nuclear family of Mom, D...

ENERGY CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST

Image
Perhaps Jeremiah Wright was right. The chickens are coming home to roost, but not in the way he meant. America’s “head in the sand” energy policy is pushing the economy to ruin as our leaders continue to fritter away the time as we slowly go to the poor house. The energy policy under the Democratic Congress and Republican President is simple: buy it from someone else. The Congress and President of the United States, as well as the current presidential candidates of both parties, should hang their heads in shame as they continue to pander to special interest groups, be it the environmental whackos or big oil, and worry about everything and everybody else but you and me. 1) While we are currently paying $4.00/gallon, soon to be $5.00, Congress attempted to pass legislation known as “Cap and Trade”. “Global Warming”, the peg upon which those who want to control the world economy are hanging their hat, was the root of this piece of “energy” legislation which was pushed by Nancy Pelosi and...

Two Issues That Could Sink Obama's Ship: Part 2 - Reparations

Image
Please Visit: Mark Knows It All - The Web Site Ok, folks, here is what I want you to do. Get out your checkbook, and write a check out to “Cash” for let’s say about $1,000.00, and find yourself an African American family and give it to them. After all, it is the least you can do to pay for the suffering that your ancestors caused through slavery. Sound ridiculous, even racist? THAT…is reparations, and it is an idea that has been bandied about by the more activist segments of the black community for more than a few years. Obama, if elected President, wouldn’t do that, would he? No, well….maybe? No one knows for sure, and the Senator from Illinois hasn’t been upfront on the issue, taking a page from the Clinton playbook and parsing his words. I predict that reparations will be THE hot button issue of the coming election, and I am not so sure it is will be Obama’s choice. In any debate with John McCain, it is the obvious question to ask. And the reason for the query will be rooted in ...

2008 SUMMER MOVIE LIST

Image
Please Visit: Mark Knows It All - The Web Site The temperature is heating up so open the windows and watch a flick. It's time for this year's Summer Movie list. Two of the movies are from 1969 and are noteworthy because they were pioneers in the sexualization of the entertainment industry. Others on the list will help to celebrate the Olympics and the Presidential election. Have fun. 1) COUPE DE VILLE (1990): This little charmer is a 4 star sleeper that is as good as summer movie as you will find. Three brothers who have not seen each other in awhile are asked by their father to drive a vintage Coupe De Ville Caddy from Detroit to Florida to surprise mother on her birthday. Along the way, the brothers rediscover each of their strengths and weaknesses, and make us care about them more than we really want to. The soundtrack is non-stop and appropriately nostalgic. A young Patrick Dempsey stars in pre Dr. Dreamy days, along with my favorite, Joseph Bologna. Find a hot night, ...